I raised concerns about road safety in North Rustico, which has become a significant issue due to the town’s rapid growth and increased traffic. I emphasized the need for improvements like sidewalks, traffic lights, and other traffic-calming measures along Route 6 to ensure the safety of both drivers and pedestrians, especially our seniors and children. Additionally, I addressed the hazardous conditions around the North Rustico Harbour area, advocating for immediate measures such as better signage and pedestrian pathways. I asked the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to commit to funding a comprehensive review and to take concrete action to address these urgent safety concerns.
I’m please to say that the Minister made the commitment – which I will make sure he honours!
Speaker: The hon. Member from Rustico-Emerald.
B. Trivers: Madam Speaker, the rapid growth of the town of North Rustico has led to increased traffic and road safety concerns that many residents have raised repeatedly. Travelling along Main Street and Cavendish Road to access essential services like the grocery store, the post office, the school, the pharmacy, the church, the rink, the Lions Club, the seniors club, and many other local businesses is becoming increasingly hazardous.
Drivers are struggling to safely turn in and out of businesses and residential areas due to the high volume and often excessive speed of traffic. Pedestrian safety is of particular concern, especially for our seniors and our children.
As per my letter of August 2023, additional safety measures are desperately needed, particularly along specific sections of Main Street and Cavendish Road, such as sidewalks, traffic lights, and other traffic-calming measures.
Pedestrian and vehicle safety
Question to the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure: Will the minister commit to funding a comprehensive review of pedestrian and vehicle safety along Route 6 in North Rustico, which will result in recommendations with a timeline for action?
Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Hon. E. Hudson: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and thank the hon. member for the question. Certainly, one thing – a number of things, but one thing that the hon. member and I do have in common is with regard to the safety. I’ve said it time and time again that with Transportation and Infrastructure, what always has to be paramount in this department is safety.
You look at some of the things that we’ve put in place already as a government: increases in fines and impoundments for excessive speeding, the mandatory entry-level training program, driver rehabilitation program, a complete review – and this is one, too, that speaks to the issue that the hon. member has brought forward – of highway access regulations that have not been updated in about three decades.
So, those are the things that the great staff in my department are working on day in and day out to provide for the safety of Islanders.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Speaker: The hon. Member from Rustico-Emerald.
B. Trivers: Thank you, minister, and thank you, Madam Speaker. I look forward to the action that comes along with that promise.
The North Rustico Harbour area has seen a significant rise in both vehicle and pedestrian traffic, largely due to the successes of local businesses and increased tourism. However, the narrow roads with blind turns and lack of pedestrian infrastructure create a hazardous environment for both residents and tourists.
To the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure: What immediate measures will be taken to address these safety issues in the North Rustico Harbour area, including the implementation of better signage and pedestrian pathways?
Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Hon. E. Hudson: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker. Again, I do have to compliment the hon. member on being such a great advocate for his area, for his district. Certainly, I am more than happy, as I know that the department is, to work with the hon. member to address the concerns that he’s brought forward. In his first question, I ran out of a bit of time there in order to answer it, but with regard to your request, hon. member, for a review of highway safety in that area, I would be pleased to stand here and commit to having that done.
Thank you.
Speaker: The hon. Member from Rustico-Emerald, your second supplementary.
B. Trivers: Thank you, Madam Speaker. That is indeed fantastic news.
Traffic safety is really an issue across the entire Island. The Town of Kensington just had to issue a community notice that speeding has become an incredible worry with people going 100 in a 50 zone. Just yesterday, the RCMP reported that speeding, impaired driving, and not wearing a seatbelt have led to at least 80 deaths of Islanders since 2019. It’s clear that we have to take action.
The Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure is taking action, and I know that he is committed to addressing the issues, but he can’t do this alone. He needs some help. We need another minister to step up and help this minister.
To the Minister of Justice and Public Safety: Will you tell this House today what you are doing to work with and support the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure to immediately address traffic safety concerns that have led to the tragic end of so many Island lives?
Speaker: The hon. Minister of Justice and Public Safety.
Hon. B. Thompson: Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I want to thank the Member from Rustico-Emerald for the question today. Downtown Rustico. He’s a great MLA, and he’s a great advocate for his constituents.
I am fully committed to improving the highway safety on this Island with the Minister of Transportation, of course, but since the Liberals cut the traffic unit to zero, we’ve added eight officers to the traffic (Indistinct)…
[Interjections]Hon. B. Thompson: …in the short period of time that we’ve been here, and I will continue to add more to have safe roads on the Island.
Thank you, Madam Speaker.
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